Preceded by Allison Ritchie Name Vanessa Goodwin Nationality Australian Role Australian Politician | Education University of Tasmania Profession Lawyer, criminologist Residence Howrah, Australia | |
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Born 22 April 1969 (age 55)
Hobart, Tasmania, Australia ( 1969-04-22 ) Political party Liberal Party of Australia Party Liberal Party of Australia | ||
Alma mater University of Tasmania | ||
Australian politician Vanessa Goodwin died at 48 | funeral function
Vanessa Goodwin (born 22 April 1969) is an Australian politician. She has been the Liberal Party member for the seat of Pembroke in the Tasmanian Legislative Council since the Pembroke by-election on 1 August 2009.
Goodwin is a criminologist and lawyer who has worked for the Department of Police and Public Safety. She has previously worked as an Associate to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Tasmania, as the Public Affairs Officer for the local Australian Hotels Association branch and as a research assistant for the Tasmanian Governor. Goodwin has a PhD in Law from the University of Tasmania, a Master of Philosophy (Criminology) from the University of Cambridge, and a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Tasmania.
Goodwin unsuccessfully contested the state seat of Franklin at the 2006 Tasmanian election, and the federal seat of Franklin at the 2007 federal election.
In 2009, Tasmanian Legislative Council member for Pembroke, Allison Ritchie, resigned, causing a by-election. Goodwin stood as the Liberal candidate, and won by a large margin. She was re-elected in 2013.
After the 2014 Tasmanian election, Goodwin was appointed Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Minister for Corrections and Minister for the Arts, as well as Leader for the Government in the Legislative Council.
On 25 March 2017, Goodwin was hospitalised with multiple brain tumours. On 6 April, Premier Will Hodgman informed the parliament that she was not expected to recover.